The remains of Eight Belles have been laid to rest at The Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. Today, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, a memorial service was held there. I, now, have a heightened respect for Eight Belles' trainer, Larry Jones. Stifling his emotions, he said:
“I was the lucky one who got to see her come into the barn as a long-legged, gangly 2-year-old filly and was also the one who was lucky enough to see her turn into a lovely, gallant and courageous racehorse,” Jones said. “My memories of her on the day (of the Derby) is that she had so much poise. She knew everyone was here for her and she just decided that with 150,000 people looking, she felt she owed it to every one of them to make eye contact. I think people were mesmerized by her."
In the words of Rick Porter, her owner:
“I’m convinced that her tragic accident is a possible catalyst for the several crisis-level changes needed in Thoroughbred horse racing. If her death can bring about much-needed rules eliminating unnecessary medication and the implementation of a racing commission to whom all of us will be accountable, then Eight Belles will not have died in vain.”
Eight Belles, such a glorious, amazing creature.
6 comments:
Let's just hope the memory of this precious girl helps keep the pressure on a crooked industry to clean up its act.
Rest in Peace, Beauty in Motion. If there is a "silver lining in the saddle" it is that your tragedy set the wheels in motion for the overhauling of a profligate industry. You were a great athlete and we lost you much too soon. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi
It is good to know that others care.
I heard you were going, I'm glad you went. I'm also glad to hear that the pressure isn't being let up on reform. Sorry EB had to die to get that moving along.
Yep, we were at the memorial service (can even be spotted in a crowd photo). Despite the publicity angle and a few other things involving CDI, it was a very nice tribute.
Reforms are underway. Let's just hope they are far reaching enough.
This was a horrid accident for any horse. But this filly was truly amazing...
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